Album Reviews (Page 51)

Avi Buffalo – Self-TitledSub Pop-out now!3.5 / 5 The debut by Long Beach-native Avigdor Zahner-Isenberg begs the question: is there such a thing as beautiful crassness? Should vulgarity sounds so pleasant? Perhaps the answer lies in “What’s in it For?” the clear, takeaway single from this collection of light, airy tunes. Nothing here hits harder than a light pluck, which is surprising considering some of the material (“Five Little Sluts,” “Where’s Your Dirty Mind”). While Zahner-Isenberg carefully straddles the line between art and outright disgustingness, generally he plays it just risque; our main regret on here is the song “Summer Cum,” which is a needlessRead More →

Slow Club – “Yeah, So”Moshi Moshi Records-out now!3 / 5 If every song from every band could be as intimate and quirky as “When I Go,” the opener from Slow Club’s debut, we’d be pleased as punch. The UK duo creeps into this track like a strange little She and Him, acoustic with a touch of sadness, and it comes off soaringly. But when the rest of Yeah, So picks up, the driving percussion and fevered pop energy aren’t enough to carry through (but still check out the story on “It Doesn’t Always Have to Be Beautiful”). Comparisons have been drawn between Slow Club andRead More →

Climber – “The Mystic”Sparklet Records-out Oct. 19 (DL available tomorrow)3.5 / 5 The Portland, OR outfit’s third release comes in the form of “The Mystic,” a psychedelic rock-suite not unlike something the Flaming Lips might put out. Opening is “The Simians Speak,” a sonically delightful tale that blends philosophy with – indeed – sign-language talking monkeys. Before you run out screaming, let us say this: the paired down psychedelia joined with a deep, meaningful statement (plus monkeys!) just plain works. Even without the apes are sonic and lyrical statements that you might expect from Pink Floyd (“Flying Cars”) and Brian Eno (“I Have Seen Everything”),Read More →